Specialized cleaners
Career Overview
Specialized cleaners:
- Clean and refurbish building exteriors, carpets, chimneys, industrial equipment, ventilation systems, windows and other surfaces, using specialized equipment and techniques
- Work for specialized cleaning service companies
- May be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Carpet and upholstery cleaners:
- Operate cleaning machines to clean carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture on customers' premises or in carpet and upholstery cleaning establishments
Chimney cleaners:
- Clean soot and creosote from chimneys and fireplaces using hand tools and industrial vacuum cleaners
Furnace and ventilation system cleaners:
- Clean ducts, vents and filters of furnaces in residences and commercial buildings using hand tools and industrial vacuum cleaners
Sandblasters:
- Clean building exteriors, tanks, chimneys and industrial equipment using sandblasting, pressurized steam or hydroblasting equipment
Vehicle cleaners:
- Clean the interior and exterior of automobiles, buses, streetcars, railway cars and subway cars
Window cleaners:
- Wash and clean interior and exterior windows and other glass surfaces in lowrise and highrise buildings
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
5,430% Employed Full Time
33%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place indoors and outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
- Working at heights can be hazardous
- Working with equipment, instruments and power tools can be a source of injury
- The workplace may contain dust, soot, sand and other air-borne particles
- Workers may be exposed to chemicals, noise and vibrations
- Work involves contact with water or other liquids
Career Pathways
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with additional training or experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- There are no specific education requirements for occupations in this unit group
- On-the-job training is usually provided
- Previous experience in a related position may be required for some occupations in this unit group
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
5,430Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 165 | 3.0% |
| Kootenay | 190 | 3.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,965 | 54.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 60 | 1.1% |
| Northeast | 105 | 1.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 920 | 16.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,025 | 18.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,450Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 50 | 1.4% |
| Kootenay | 30 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 830 | 0.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | -0.3% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 220 | 0.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 290 | 0.9% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 450 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 390 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 300 |
| Construction | 80 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 70 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
